Yellowstone Wolf Population Increased in 2014

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming wolf population grew by 9 percent in 2014. There are 104 wolves in 11 packs in Yellowstone.

By Staff
, Apr 7, 2015

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming wolf population grew by 9 percent in 2014. There are 104 wolves in 11 packs in Yellowstone National Park. A pack of 10 wolves lives on the Wind River Indian Reservation southeast of Yellowstone. Another 195 wolves in 34 packs roam in Wyoming.

In previous years, wolves had been in decline since flourishing numbers from 2003 to 2007.

Some think that September's court order to suspend wolf hunting in Wyoming played a part in the population increase outside of Yellowstone.

“Just because you’re not having a hunting season doesn’t mean the population is going to take off or anything,” Jimenez told the Jackson Hole News & Guide. “It’s a pretty small impact. The hunting season is not a huge source of mortality,” he said.

Both Montana and Idaho had legal wolf hunting in 2014. Idaho's wolf population went up and Montana's declined.

During the year, 43 Wyoming wolves were legally killed in Wyoming and 68 died of natural causes.